PORTLAND, Ore. – Federal water managers at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will adjust water levels behind John Day Dam (Lake Umatilla), in north-central Oregon, this week to prepare for another round of heavy precipitation in the Columbia River Basin. This will be the third atmospheric river storm event within the last two weeks.
The action is a proactive measure to help manage runoff from recent rainstorms and reduce water levels in the Columbia River near Portland and Vancouver.
“At this time, we don’t anticipate any significant impacts to people who use Lake Umatilla on a regular basis,” said Aaron Marshall, Reservoir Control Center chief. “We mainly want to remind the public that John Day Dam is a critical...
12.17.2025 | PORTLAND, OREGON, US |
Story by Tom Conning
The U..S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will adjust water levels behind John Day Dam (Lake Umatilla pictured), in north-central Oregon, this week to prepare for another round of heavy precipitation in the Columbia River Basin. This will be the third atmospheric river storm event within the last two weeks.
Public meetings are normally held each spring and fall from Montana to Missouri and offer attendees an opportunity to provide feedback and voice concerns related to water management of the reservoirs. Due to the lapse in appropriations, in-person public meetings on Missouri River Mainstem Reservoir system operations, were canceled. In their place, a virtual meeting was held and recorded on Oct. 30.
